“That is a good
one and how about when…”
They continued
discussing the movie, actually burying the problems between them.
Like in the movie, some actions have deeper meanings. And the
action here meant that Colt could forgive his brother and maybe
Miles would even learn something. Anything was possible…
I’m finally
here
…Mandy had just pulled up in the driveway by Jeanne and
Sam’s house when her phone rang.
“Hello? Oh,
Colt, I was so hoping it was you. I have so much to tell you.” He
immediately noticed the lift in her voice – it was all getting
better.
“Hi,
sweetheart…. It’s wonderful to hear your voice. Where are you?”
“In Sonoma.
Isn’t that where you are?”
“Ah…no. I’m
still in Naples. I thought you were in Sacramento…I was going to
drive over to surprise you.” He smiled.
Mandy laughed.
“That’s pretty funny. I thought I would surprise you in Sonoma…”
They both started laughing.
“I have a lot
to tell you too. God, I miss you. Are you still wearing my ring?”
He caught himself. ... “Jeez, that sounds like we’re in high
school…” Still, he held his breath waiting for her answer.
“Oh, honey, I
never took it off. Why would I?”
He let out the
breath he had been holding. “I know we’ve kept in communication,
but I just wasn’t sure how you felt anymore.”
“Well,” she
tried her sexy voice on him, “perhaps if we could find ourselves in
the same city, I might be able to show you how I feel. Hmmm? Think
that can be arranged?”
Colt’s pulse
clocked ninety in three seconds. “I’m leaving today, right after
this phone call. Tell me exactly where you want to meet…” He didn’t
care how anxious he sounded because that’s exactly what he was.
Anxious to see her, to be with her…
“Let’s meet in
Donner at your place. I can be there in about two and a half hours.
Actually… that’s just travel time. I want to go in and see your
grandparents while I’m sitting here in their driveway.” She saw
them come out and wave at her. “In fact, they’ve just come out of
the house. I need to go.”
“When, Mandy,
when??” Colt was insistent.
“I probably
should stay for lunch, since I’m here. I don’t want to be rude. I
can be in Donner by 3:00. How would that be?”
“Not soon
enough. Please meet me as soon as humanly possible at my cabin, all
right?”
“Okay, and
Colt?” Mandy smiled into the phone.
“Yes,
sweetheart?”
“I love
you.”
“God, I adore
you so. Meet me as soon as you can. I can’t wait much longer.” Colt
smiled into his phone and then kissed it.
“I heard that!
Is that some kind of phone sex?” She laughed.
“No phone sex.
I only want the real thing. See you soon, sweetheart. Give my love
to Jeanne and Sam.”
“Bye.”
By this time,
Jeanne was down by her car, opening the door for her, while Sam
stayed back by the front porch. Jeanne’s smile was broad.
“Hello, Mandy,
dear. I can see by your face that the love of your life was just on
the phone with you.”
“Hi Jeanne.”
Mandy got out and gave her a big hug. Such a wonderful woman… “Yes,
you caught me. That was Colt. I showed up at your place, because I
wanted to surprise him. I guess I’m the one surprised, because he’s
not here…” She laughed.
“Come, come,
come. Sam’s dying to see you too. So glad you could stop by.”
Jeanne took her arm and they walked together up to where Sam was
standing. He gave her a big hug as well.
“Great to see
you, girl. How have you been?”
“Well, that’s
the $64,000 question, Sam,” laughed Mandy.
“Let’s get her
in the house. No interrogation on the front porch. She can sit down
and have some iced tea before we start grilling her for
information.”
Mandy laughed
again. She was so comfortable with his grandparents, and all of his
relatives, for that matter. Even Miles… He was a little impetuous,
that’s all.
What a nice
place, she thought. There’s a good fire going in the pellet stove
they had in the kitchen. She hoped she wouldn’t get so cozy that
she fell asleep. Warmth did that to her. And what were those
incredible aromas? That was enough to come here for…
“You’ve been
baking, Jeanne. What’s in the oven?”
“You know how
Sam likes my chocolate chip cookies.”
“They smell
heavenly...”
“And are just
about done. I was just going to get them out to cool.” Jeanne
opened the oven door and took out the cookies. Their fragrant
chocolate aroma filled the kitchen immediately. Mandy drank it in…
Sam was pouring her a glass of iced tea.
“So how are
you, dear? Are you okay?” They were all concern for her.
“Where should I
start?” She looked from Sam to Jeanne’s anxious face.
“At the
beginning. That’s always the best place.”
So Mandy told
them in glowing detail about having to leave Donner for Sacramento.
She knew it about killed Colt and didn’t do her much good either.
She continued on to tell about meeting with her mother and Eddy,
and how she dealt with them both. They beamed at her.
“Mandy, honey,
you did such a great job. That must have been rough on all counts.
Good for you,” Sam said.
“I agree,” said
Jeanne. “That must have been so hard to talk to your mother about
her addiction problems. Do you think she’ll follow through on your
ultimatum?”
“Well, I am
fully prepared to deliver the consequences if she doesn’t. I told
her I didn’t want her drinking or bad behavior at the wedding and I
meant it.”
“And the
ex-boyfriend…Eddy, is it? Do you think he’ll bother you any more?”
Sam was concerned.
“I don’t think
so. He’s not such a bad guy – he just used poor judgment. He
sounded like he was willing to start again on a better foot with
someone else. At least, he had better be. If he calls again, I’m
letting Colt take over.”
“Good
girl.”
“Colt can take
him. He doesn’t work out with horses for nothing,” laughed Sam.
“Listen, I can
only stay for lunch, if that’s all right with you. I’ve arranged to
meet Colt back at Donner, and I don’t want to keep him waiting.”
She smiled.
Jeanne got up
and started making lunch for them. “We were just about to have some
lunch, weren’t we, Sam? It is so nice that you could eat with
us.”
“Could I give
you a hand?”
“Gracious me,
no, sweetie. Why don’t you and Sam go out to see the grapes while I
do this. Give me about fifteen minutes.”
With that, Sam
opened the back door for her and they went to see the vines up on
the hills behind the house. Sam might not have had many acres, but
what he had was choice. Plump, juicy grape clusters were all over
his vines and they looked ready to pluck.
“Grape
harvesting time is coming up soon, Mandy. You’ll need to come up
for it, because it is an annual Johnson family event. And you’ll be
a Johnson soon…” He smiled broadly at her. “The family loves you
very much. I hope you know that and like us.”
Tears sprang to
her eyes. “Sam, thank you so much. You don’t know what it means to
me for you to say that. I love you all. You’ve been so kind and
welcoming that I feel at home with all of you.”
“Well, now,” he
sputtered, “I…didn’t mean to make you cry. Sorry…I think I have a
hanky here somewhere.” He fished a wrinkled and worn handkerchief
out of a back pocket and handed it to her.
“It’s okay.
Please show me the grapes,” she said while dabbing her eyes.
“Grapes are
like people, you know.”
“How’s
that?”
“Grapes can be
sturdy plants, but they can be bruised and need to be treated
kindly. It takes a long time to grow a healthy grape plant and it
needs nurturing. All relationships do. It’s the same with you and
Colt. You just need time to get that nurturing and kindness in and
you’ll have a healthy marriage.”
Mandy opened
her mouth in surprise at the wisdom of Sam’s words. He had never
really said more than a few nice sentences to her. She had no idea
of the depth of his feelings. She turned to look at him.
“So I have your
blessing then to marry Colt?” She smiled at him. “I do love him,
you know.”
“I know that,
sweetie and he loves you too. You just had a rough Act Two, as my
beloved wife would say.”
“Sam, thank
you.” She gave him a big hug. Then they heard Jeanne calling them
for lunch and they walked back down the hill.
After lunch and
Mandy was walking to her car to leave, Jeanne said to her, “You
know, just because you’re a counselor and I know you’re a good one,
you don’t need to solve all your problems yourself. We’re a big,
nosy family and you can call on any of us to help. We love you and
Colt and would do anything for you.” Jeanne gave her another
hug.
She was dabbing
her eyes again, as she got into the car and drove away. They stood
on the front porch, waving goodbye. Mandy counted her blessings
that she was marrying into such a wonderful family as the
Johnsons.
Donner Lake
at long last
… It was a long couple of hours. She wanted to see
him so much. Finally, she pulled up at his cabin. She saw several
boxes piled outside and wondered what he was doing. Even though it
was getting chilly, the front door was open and she could hear
music.
Mandy walked up
to the door and looked in to see him packing a box. Colt felt her
presence before he saw her. He turned around and grinned.
“Hi,
sweetheart. Long time, no see.” She laughed.
“Howdy,
stranger – Remember me?” She took a step toward him.
“You look kinda
familiar… Now where have I seen you before?” He took a step toward
her.
“Probably in
one of your better dreams.” She took another step toward him.
“That could be,
since I dream nightly…” He took another step toward her.
“Oh, Colt...”
With that, she ran the rest of the way right into his arms. They
just wrapped their arms around each other and held on for all they
were worth. Mandy got teary again. He pulled back only far enough
to start kissing her. She kissed him back excitedly.
He pulled her
into his aura like they were two halves of the same whole. The feel
of her, the taste… It was so exquisite and made him want more. She
pressed in closer to him to smell him, to feel him… It had been too
long for both of them and neither one wanted to part ever
again.
Colt took her
hand up to his lips and kissed it tenderly while watching her. She
felt hypnotized and couldn’t drag her eyes from his face. Then he
took her face between his hands and kissed everywhere on her face
there was a place to kiss. She sighed deeply and thought her bones
had turned to mush.
It felt so good to be loved…
He took her
hand then and led her to the bedroom. He nudged her into his bed
and lay down beside her. Mandy watched him as a snake handler
watches the cobra. Clothes had become an obstacle, so they were
dispensed with and quickly. Lying naked together, his blood pounded
and she shivered against him.
“Cold?”
“No, thrilled…”
He smiled and began kissing her again. His hands slid over her body
as she began exploring him too. She thought of no one but him --
His slow, deliberate touching caused her to moan with
excitement.
“More?” he
teased with his lips touching hers.
“Yep…” she said
into his now urgent kiss.
Making love,
their bodies moved together in fluid movement. An ocean of feeling
went through her as she crashed through any last vestiges of
control.
“Mandy…Mandy…”
he breathed.
In time, they
lay back, trying slowly to regulate their erratic breathing. He
pulled the covers over her, as she snuggled into the crook of his
arm.
“That’s where
you belong, you know. Right under my arm as close to me as you can
get.” Colt wrapped her up in the blanket and put his arms around
her.
“Mmmm….” Mandy
was so content that she couldn’t speak -- a sound bubbled out
instead.
Colt chuckled.
“You sound like one of our contented cows at the ranch.”
Mandy opened
one eye to peer at him. “Did you just describe me as one of your
ranch cows?”
He gently
closed her eye with a kiss. “Don’t get your hackles up. It’s just
an expression, not a description.”
She peered at
him again, “How can you be so lucid and literary at a moment like
this? I can barely move and you’re quoting Shakespeare. Sex must
energize you. It puts me to sleep…” She snuggled into him
tighter.
Colt kissed the
top of her head. “If you go to sleep now, you’ll miss Round
Two.”
An eye peeked
open again. “Hmmm…you don’t say. I guess we’ve been away from each
other longer than we thought. What is it about you that just makes
me want to take a bite?”
At that, he
bent down and nipped at her lower lip. What was that? He kissed her
softly a few million times and then rolled over on her to really
press his point. She put her arms around his neck and pulled him
closer, if that was possible. She kissed him back more urgently and
then they were at it again.
She found him
appealing and irresistible in every possible way. His mind screamed
out for her. Mandy…Mandy…
“Yummy….” She
managed to get out between kisses. Afterwards, they drifted off to
sleep snuggled together like two spoons. She felt him reach for her
during the night several times and kiss her neck.
Lovely
…
Sometime in the wee hours, he had his arm around her waist and
reached up to cup her breast. She turned around then and faced him.
He smiled at her and bent down to kiss her breast. Now this was
better than a movie…
Mandy moved
with him and soon they were making love again.
Who’s
counting,
and they slept very little that night. Who wanted to
sleep when the person of your dreams is right there with you? She
finally dozed off again snuggled into his chest. With his arms
around her, for good this time, he sighed a sigh of relief. This
was what he wanted…. This is what he needed -- Her in his arms and
the world looked good. Conquerable even. It made him feel like he
could do anything and just might. And long as she was there…